The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/90932
Big Ten Postseason Award Predictions In 2011, with the inclusion of Nebraska and a conference title game, the Big Ten introduced 15 postseason individual awards, ranging from Player of the Year to Punter of the Year. Here are the four major awards and the favorites heading into the final month. Offensive Player of the Year — Braxton Miller: The sophomore quarterback may sit sixth in the Big Ten in pass efficiency (135.3 rating) and sixth in passing (169.7 yards per game), but like Michigan's Denard Robinson he is a dynamic dual-threat QB. He leads the conference in rush- ing (121.4 yards per game) and total offense (291.1-yard average) through October while accounting for 24 total touchdowns this season. With Ohio State 9-0 and the Big Ten's only undefeated team, Miller is a shoe-in if OSU keeps winning. Defensive Player of the Year — Michael Mauti: Regarded as the conference's best linebacker, the fifth-year senior has been outstanding in his return to the Blue and White de- fense after missing most of 2011 with an ACL tear. Mauti led the Nittany Lions and ranked third in the Big Ten with 9.8 tackles per game through Oct. 31, recording 78 overall, including 3.5 for loss. He's picked off three passes, broken up two more, forced two fumbles and recovered one. Most importantly, Mauti has spearheaded a defensive attack, ranked No. 22 nationally in total yards and No. 18 in scoring, largely responsible for Penn State's 5-3 overall record and 3-1 Big Ten mark. Coach of the Year — Bill O'Brien: Facing the harshest sanctions levied against a Division I program in more than 25 years — since SMU had its 1987 season canceled — Penn State had to do major damage control. PSU was forced to convince its current players not to flee en masse and for recruits to consider still playing football in State College. When the Blue and White started off 0-2, losing to Ohio and Virginia, they were done for 2012, but O'Brien rallied his team and the PSU community, leading the Nittany Lions to five straight wins. It is likely Penn State will go 3-1 or even 4-0 in its final four, giving fans and the players that stuck with their commitment reason to be proud. Freshman of the Year — TBD: Wisconsin redshirt fresh- man quarterback Joel Stave was the favorite for this award after ranking third in the Big Ten in pass efficiency with a 149.6 rating in seven appearances, but he suffered a broken collarbone against Michigan State Oct. 27 and is lost for the season. Penn State's Kyle Carter, who leads the conference's freshman receivers in receptions with 35, could snatch the trophy with Stave out, or someone like Michigan tight end Devin Funchess could steal it with a strong finish. Stave might still prevail when the season ends, however. — Michael Spath Ohio State sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller had led the Buckeyes to a perfect 9-0 mark through the end of October. 22 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2012 PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL